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July 2021 Podcast: Remembering the GBA, the greatest console of all

Hello folks! We've got a special themed episode for you this month - it's all about Nintendo's Game Boy Advance (GBA).

The GBA turned 20 in Australia this June, and to this day remains one of the consoles that we remember fondly. It had a seemingly endless stream of excellent JRPGs, introduced us to some of our favourite properties (Fire Emblem, anyone?), and in many cases, was the first games console that we had, or took seriously.

So in this nearly 2-hour special podcast we spend most of it talking about the GBA - what we loved, what we missed, and why we'd love to see Nintendo actually bring it back in some form.

In addition to that we do run through all the games you'll be playing in July - there's a lot of them coming.

Thanks as always for tuning in!

June 2021 Podcast: All about JRPGs!

We have a special themed podcast episode this episode! With special guest, Jay from JayRPG, we talk on for over an hour and a half about JRPGs - what we love about them, what we're looking forward to from the genre this year, and we take a deep dive into Dragon Quest.

JRPGs have always been central to the Japanese games industry, and they're going through a real high at the moment, winning new audiences and finding new voices. In this podcast episode, we explore some of what makes them so special to us.

 

May 2021 Podcast: Roguelikes, Photography, Simulations and more!

The roguelike is a hot topic again, thanks to the "AAA"-roguelike, Returnal, exclusive to PlayStation 5. We chat about that this month on the podcast.

We also have a good chat about photography in games, thanks to New Pokemon Snap bringing out the wildlife photographer in us... and then we chat about a favourite genre, the simulation, and some of the implications of the newer era takes on that genre.

Finally, of course we have a good look at all the games coming out in May, and what you should be looking forward to.

Thanks as always for tuning in!

 

April 2021 Podcast: NieR, Party Games, Mysteries and More!

This month's podcast is a massive one, as we had a lot to talk about. We kick things off with the games of the month, of course (and there's a lot to look forward to in April!). Then we chat about NieR, the masterpiece that it is, before also talking about our love of mystery games AND party games.

Thanks as always for tuning in - let us know what you think about this episode, and we'll see you at the next one!

March 2021 Podcast: On retro-themed JRPGs and our love of the arcades

Have we got a massive podcast to share with you this month!

Not only do we talk about the games of March (of which there are A LOT coming), but we also go in-depth into retro-themed JRPGs, arcade games and arcade compilations. And then we have an in-depth interview with one of Australia's leading journeyman freelance narrative writers, Lee, about the local industry and some of the wonderful games that he's worked on.

It's a packed two hours to look forward to, so load it up and enjoy! Thanks as always for tuning in!

February 2021 Podcast: The platformer, and why games need to be more narrative-focused

Time sure flies when you're having fun!

We're already into the second month of 2021, and we've been having a lot of fun with the games we've been playing. This month on the podcast we look at the packed February lineup, discuss why games need to be orientated more towards narrative, consider the ongoing role of the platformer, and debate what qualities make a game worth returning to once it becomes "retro".

Thanks as always for tuning in, and we'll catch you next month!

January 2021 Podcast: We are back in business!

Welcome to the New Year, everyone! Let's hope that this year is a better one for everyone.

We are back with our monthly podcasts this year, where we'll look at all the games coming up in the month, as well as discussing various other topics... and hopefully have a guest or two along the way as well!

This month's a pretty casual one. We chat about what we're looking forward to in the year, and some of the highlights of last year. We also chat about the games that have defined the last generation, as this will be the first full year of the "new-gen" with the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.

Be sure to shout out over the year if there are any topics you'd like to see us cover. Otherwise, we look forward to having you tune in each month over the year!

December 2020 Podcast: PlayStation 5, history fanservice, and good remakes!

Welcome to our final podcast of the year! This week we have special guest, Sanatana Mishra who has worked on, among other things, the excellent Assault Android Cactus and a range of remakes, including the Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse remake from a few years ago that was so, so good.

We talk with Sanatana about remakes, remasters, and what works and doesn't. We also talk about the new toy on the block - the PlayStation 5 - and all the fun we've been having with that, and then we talk about history games, and how Assassin's Creed is right back on top thanks to Valhalla.

Finally, we talk about all the good games coming out in December... there are more of them than you think.

Thanks as always for tuning in, and we hope you enjoy the cast! Say hi and share your thoughts, and we'll be back right at the end of the year for the January episode!

 

November 2020 Podcast: FOMO, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin and Aussie fan service!

The next generation of consoles will be on us in just weeks, and this time around it's a little different. With COVID-19 disrupting manufacturing and shipping, a lot of people are going to miss the first wave of this generation, so this week on the podcast we talk about the almighty fear of missing out, or FOMO.

We also delve into all the games you'll be playing in November (though we do mention Cyberpunk 2077, which has just been pushed into December now), and we talk about Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, one of the real gems and delights to emerge from 2020.

Finally, we are joined by special guest, Lachlan, to discuss his newly-released, and super-fanservicey Max's Bigger Bust - the sequel to Max's Big Bust, and one of the few games that combines anime art style and Australianisms. It's a hilarious game, we promise.

Thanks as always for tuning in, and we'll see you next month!

 

October 2020 Podcast: Tokyo Game Show, classic games and visual novels!

We have a special guest on the podcast this week! Tina from Cotton Candy Cyanide, an Australian developer that has just released her first game under the brand - Quantum Suicide. It's a very, very good game, full of Danganronpa-style drama and with a healthy dose of fan service, so this week we chat with her about the game, its development, and what players should look forward to from it.

We also go through the games that will release through October (there is a lot of them), and talk about both Tokyo Game Show for 2020, and classic games - which classic games hold up, which do not, and why. This topic was inspired by Mario 64's recent re-release on to Nintendo Switch, and there is some heated debate across the DDNet team as to its value as a game in 2020.

It's a big podcast, so kick back, relax, and enjoy! We'll be back next month with the next one!